Therapeutic apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugal relationship wherein shoulder supports and stirrups are effectively combined to produce a device which substantially reduces the amount of physical exertion and strain normally associated with acts of intimacy. The present apparatus is capable of reducing the amount of physical exertion by 50% or more because it is capable of transferring strain from other areas of the body to the legs.

United States Patent [191 Withers [111 3,896,787 July 29, 1975 1 1THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Ronald L. Withers. 6710 HarwoodPl., Springfield, Va. 22152 [22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:425,929

[52] U.S. Cl 128/1 R; 5/327 R;"128/31; 269/328; 272/57 R ;"2'72/79 [51]Int. Cl A6lb 19/00 [58] Field of Search 128/1 R, 31, 134, 303 R,128/361; 5/327 R; 269/322, 328; 272/57 R, 58, 79-83 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.622313 3/1927 Gellhorn 269/328 2,594,0974/1952 Twyman 128/1 R 3,524,643 8/1970 Hazelitt 272/83 R 3,668,7226/1972 Gallant..... 3,813,091 5/1974 Metzger 5/327 R X PrimaryExaminer-Dalton L. Truluck Attorney, Agent, or FirmStewart and Kolasch,Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugalrelationship wherein shoulder supports and stirrups are effectivelycombined to produce a device which substantially reduces the amount ofphysical exertion and strain normally associated with acts of intimacy.The present apparatus is capable of reducing the amount of physicalexertion by 50% or more because it is capable of transferring strainfrom other areas of the body to the legs.

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 9 975 THERAPEUTIC APPARATUSBACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toan apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugal relationship andmore particularly to an apparatus for promoting and maintaining thedesired compatibility in married life between husband and wife where atleast one of the parties is suffering from a physical impairment.

Normal sexual activity between husband and wife in a marital union is avery important ingredient for the promotion of marital accord and themaintaining of the desired compatibility between the parties. Thisingredient in the marital relationship is no less important in amarriage where one of the parties is suffering from a disease or aphysical impairment, such as for example, heart disease. Accordingly, inorder to maintain this desired compatibility between a husband and wife,even in situations where physical exertion or stress would endanger thehealth of one of the parties, it is important to be able to assist saidparties in their sexual relationship by reducing the amount of strainand exertion normally associated therewith.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus which is used in the promotion of marital accord where one ofthe parties possesses a physical impairment which would normally greatlyrestrict normal sexual activity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus fortherapeutically assisting the conjugal relationship between a husbandand Wife while making said relationship more pleasurable and helpful forthe participants.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatuswhich enables a person suffering from a disease, such as for example,heart disease, to engage in normal sexual activity while substantiallyreducing the stress and strain normally associated therewith.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the presentinvention will become apparent from the detailed description givenhereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detaileddescription and specific examples, while indicating preferredembodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only,since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope ofthe invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thisdetailed description.

Pursuant to the present invention, an apparatus has been developed whichenables an individual suffering from some type of physical impairment tocarry on normal sexual activities by minimizing certain stresses andstrains which tend to aggrevate his or her physical condition. Accordingto the present invention, shoulder stops are extended a distance from asupporting framework, said framework being adapted to abut against orattached to the headboard of a bed. Foot-engageable stirrups areattached to straps which also extend from the supporting framework orother associated structural elements. Where the straps are attached tothe supporting framework, means are provided for adjusting the length ofthe straps. This enables the apparatus of the present invention toaccommodate an individual of any size.

In operation, the female, for example, positions her head between theshoulder stops with her shoulders engaging the contoured padded portionof said stops. The stops are extended a distance from the supportingframework to provide adequate space and comfort for the female. The malethen puts his feet into the stirrups, which can also be padded, saidstirrups being attached to a very light-weight, strong straps. Thelength of the nylon straps can be adjusted by rotating a knob attachedto a spool mechanism located on both sides of the structural meansdisposed between the shoulder stops and the supporting framework.Because of the location of the length-adjusting means, the length of thestraps can be adjusted not only preliminary to but also during theconsummation of the sexual relationship. The strap material can be madeout of any natural or synthetic material which can be either elastic ornonelastic in nature. Typical materials might include straps made ofcotton, nylon or polyester materials.

Because of the apparatus of the present invention, the use of the back,chest, shoulder and arm muscles, normally associated with sexualactivity and which could be injurious to the overall health of a cardiacpatient, is substantially reduced by transferring at least about 50% ormore of the physical exertion associated with the use of these musclesto the legs of the individual. Thus, the normal strain of the sexual acton the patient is greatly reduced. Furthermore, the pleasure of bothparties is also increased by the pushing action which is facilitated bythe foot-engageable stirrups and the resistance provided by the shoulderstops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become morefully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and theaccompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, andthus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein FIG. 1 is aperspective view of the apparatus of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 shows how the apparatus of FIG. 1 can be folded along a hingemeans provided in the supporting framework; it is taken along line 22 ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingswhere identical reference numerals are used throughout the various viewsto indicate identical parts, the apparatus of the present inventioncomprises a supporting framework 1 and shoulder stops 2, said shoulderstops being extended a distance from the supporting framework bystructural means 3. Straps 4 are extended from each side of thestructural means 3 and are provided at their lower end withfoot-engageable stirrups 5. The structural means 3 contain adjustingmeans 7 composed of a spool means 8 which is adapted to receive ordischarge the straps and hand-operated knob means 9 associated with thespool means for winding the straps thereon or unwinding the strapstherefrom. Thus, the length of the straps 4 can be adjusted from areadily accessible location on either side of the shoulder stops. Thefabric strap 4 can also be tied together at an area near thefoot-engageable stirrups by a transverse fabric strap 10. Furthermore,the shoulder stops can be provided with a padded surface 11 as shown inFIG. 2. FIG. 2 also shows how the apparatus of the present invention canbe folded together along a hinge 6 when it is not in use. FIG. I showsone strap having only one footengageable support 5 and one strap havinga plurality of spaced-apart foot-engageable supports 5, 5 so that theindividual can adjust his overall position accordingly. Thus the presentinvention contemplates a device with either single stirrups or multiplestirrups.

The apparatus of the present invention can be made out of any of thewell known materials which are not only strong in nature but providesome esthetic value. For example, the supporting framework, structuralmeans, shoulder stops and foot-engageable stirrups can be made of any ofthe well known plastic materials, for example various polyolefins orpolyesters, or various lightweight metallic materials, such as forexample aluminum. Also, the straps to which the stirrups are attachedcan also be made of a variety of materials, with the preferred materialbeing nylon. Although the adjusting means are shown in FIG. 1 as beingattached to the structural means 3, it is readily apparent that saidadjusting means could be relocated and thus associated with either theshoulder stops or the supporting framework with the only considerationbeing that the adjusting means will be readily accessible to theindividual while he is using the apparatus.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thefollowing claims.

It is claimed:

, 1. An apparatus for therapeutically assisting theconjugal.relationship between a man and woman which comprises asupporting framework and shoulder stops, structural means connected tosaid supporting framework and said shoulder stops for extending theshoulder stops a distance from the supporting framework, strapsextending from said structural means, said straps being provided withfoot-engageable stirrups, adjusting means associated with saidstructural means for changing the length of the straps, said adjustingmeans comprising spool means which are adapted to receive or dischargethe straps and hand-operated knob means operatively associated with thespool means for winding the straps thereon or unwinding the strapstherefrom.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the framework is a flat structuralelement which is adapted to engage the headboard of a bed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein hinge means are provided in themiddle portion of the framework for folding said framework.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shoulder stops are contoured toconform to the shoulders of the individual using the device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shoulder stops are padded.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the straps are made of anon-stretchable material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the straps are made of an elasticmaterial.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein connecting means are attached tothe respective strap means above the stirrups.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stirrups comprise a pluralityof spaced-apart foot-engageable supports.

1. An apparatus for therapeutically assisting the conjugal relationshipbetween a man and woman which comprises a supporting framework andshoulder stops, structural means connected to said supporting frameworkand said shoulder stops for extending the shoulder stops a distance fromthe supporting framework, straps extending from said structural means,said straps being provided with foot-engageable stirrups, adjustingmeans associated with said structural means for changing the length ofthe straps, said adjusting means comprising spool means which areadapted to receive or discharge the straps and hand-operated knob meansoperatively associated with the spool means for winding the strapsthereon or unwinding the straps therefrom.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the framework is a flat structural element which is adapted toengage the headboard of a bed.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, whereinhinge means are provided in the middle portion of the framework forfolding said framework.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theshoulder stops are contoured to conform to the shoulders of theindividual using the device.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein theshoulder stops are padded.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thestraps are made of a non-stretchable material.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the straps are made of an elastic material.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein connecting means are attached to the respectivestrap means above the stirrups.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thestirrups comprise a plurality of spaced-apart foot-engageable supports.